This one takes you out past Hemlock Point, where you can assess the water conditions in the more open part of the lake, to Moose Island. If conditions are favorable to your paddling skills, point your bow eastward after clearing the point.

There are there sets of buoys about a half-mile distant that mark shallow areas. Steer toward the center of the three. This will take you on due east on your compass. After passing the first buoy (keeping it to your right) steer toward the nearest point of land, keeping it about 50 feet to your right.

Directly ahead is a sand-gravel beach, a nice place to stretch. I’ve seen campers here and day users swimming here as well, taking advantage of the sandy bottom and gradual dropoff. I also startled a few huge fish there last week. My guess was pickerel, but they were good size, based on the wake they left behind.

From the beach proceed clockwise around Moose, keeping your eyes open for wildlife. I’ve seen beaver, muskrat, kingfisher, eagles, osprey, ducks and gulls. Once, a pair of young eagles soared overhead in mock combat, swooping and diving and locking talons in flight — awesome display — and I nearly capsized craning my neck to watch them.

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Once your circle is nearly complete, decide whether you want to return to the beach for a stretch, or head back to Hemlock Point and Gould Landing. Or you could head to the southern shoreline and make your way back exploring the marshes and shallows.

To get to Gould Landing, drive out Essex Street in Bangor until you hit the lake. There are two parking areas, one for the boat launch area, the other for the picnic-beach area. In warmer weather there are portable toilets available for public use. In warmer weather be sure to have insect repellent available, particularly in the evening when the breezes die down. Mosquitoes are voracious at times.